General Hockey Talk - Injuries, signings, factoids + other news from around the league

davetherave wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2009/11/08/whispers-heard-on-possible-giguere-trade/23069/

"Whispers".

They used to say, "Buzz".

I still don't get it.

Randy Youngman is a fairly feasible source. He doesn't have the credibility of a Bob Mac, but he's pretty in tune with the Ducks and what's going on.

Dave, not that I give too much of a care, but Toronto hired Giguere's goalie coach (one of the best in the World) - and the Ducks want to rid themselves of that contract going forward (next year).

It's been in quite a few rumour mills for a while now, surprised you missed it.

SpezDispenser wrote:

davetherave wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2009/11/08/whispers-heard-on-possible-giguere-trade/23069/

"Whispers".

They used to say, "Buzz".

I still don't get it.

Randy Youngman is a fairly feasible source. He doesn't have the credibility of a Bob Mac, but he's pretty in tune with the Ducks and what's going on.

@Spez> I'm messin' witcha.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Let the Giggy to TO rumours go wild.

They've been running pretty hot the last couple of weeks. Toskala for Giguere straight up appears to be the feeling.

Really??? Why in the world...

SpezDispenser wrote:Dave, not that I give too much of a care, but Toronto hired Giguere's goalie coach (one of the best in the World) - and the Ducks want to rid themselves of that contract going forward (next year).

It's been in quite a few rumour mills for a while now, surprised you missed it.

My friend, this rumour's so old it's applied for the Canada Pension Plan.

SensGirl11 wrote:
Really??? Why in the world...

They don't want to pay Giguere the ~ 7 million next year, they'd rather have Toskala who comes off the books next year and use that money to improve their now sub-par D.

Man, do I ever not want to see Giguere in Toronto. Eeeks. I'm still having nightmares about him..

davetherave wrote:
My friend, this rumour's so old it's applied for the Canada Pension Plan.

Okay, you were acting like you didn't know. I thought I should try to explain, sorry.

SensGirl11 wrote:Man, do I ever not want to see Giguere in Toronto. Eeeks. I'm still having nightmares about him..

He wasn't anything special, the Ducks' D and F were extraordinary. Diddlers.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:
Really??? Why in the world...

They don't want to pay Giguere the ~ 7 million next year, they'd rather have Toskala who comes off the books next year and use that money to improve their now sub-par D.

Fair enough, but still silly IMO. Whatever, they can do what they want. I guess they're comfortable enough now that Hiller is ready to be Number 1.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Man, do I ever not want to see Giguere in Toronto. Eeeks. I'm still having nightmares about him..

He wasn't anything special, the Ducks' D and F were extraordinary. Diddlers.

Yes they were, but he certainly helped their case.

SensGirl11 wrote:
Fair enough, but still silly IMO. Whatever, they can do what they want. I guess they're comfortable enough now that Hiller is ready to be Number 1.

Now's the time though. If they can do it, then let it happen. They might need to try to pry one of Toronto's D-men away if possible though, their D has been flailing lately. Well...it's not just that, they're not really that great anymore. Pronger was a massive piece of their puzzle.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:
Fair enough, but still silly IMO. Whatever, they can do what they want. I guess they're comfortable enough now that Hiller is ready to be Number 1.

Now's the time though. If they can do it, then let it happen. They might need to try to pry one of Toronto's D-men away if possible though, their D has been flailing lately. Well...it's not just that, they're not really that great anymore. Pronger was a massive piece of their puzzle.

Very true, I can't believe they let him walk. Unbelievable. Pretty similar to us and Chara. I think Chara's better though of course.

Flailing D...sounds familiar.

I don't see Toronto as a destination for him, cause he would still likely be 2nd fiddle to Gustavsson, no? And Gus wouldn't want to lose his job to a goalie brought in via trade, doesn't make him feel too good. And Toronto is tight to the cap so they'd not only have to move Toskala but another 1-2 million extra. And does Anaheim want Toskala when they have a cheaper #1? They will save $2 mil this year and lose his contract after this season, so maybe they do it.

J-S G wants to stay in Cali though, doesn't he? So only other destinations are LA and SJ, but with Quick's play and Nabby in SJ, no way.

Is St. Lu's goaltending situation stable? Is Florida content with Vokoun? Tampa set with Smith and Nitty?

SpezDispenser wrote:

davetherave wrote:
My friend, this rumour's so old it's applied for the Canada Pension Plan.

Okay, you were acting like you didn't know. I thought I should try to explain, sorry.

@Spez-D> no worries, my friend...what's the point, if we can't have a little fun every once in a while, hm?

Anyway, about Giguere...the talk of his leaving Anaheim has been going on ever since he had his family issues last year, and the injuries, and Jonas Hiller taking the top job....and of course, the speculation about Toronto started because of the relationship with Burke, and the moment Burke hired Allaire, the rumour mill started grinding.

I was teasing you about the Ek connection (Ek's real name is Dwayne by the way, and he appears to be held in as much contempt by a number of media professionals, as he is by the astute members of GMH).

HOWEVER...

Besides being a regular columnist for the NHL, Paul Kukla, runs, in my professional opinion, absolutely the best hockey info site anywhere on the web. He tracks down the best articles by the best professional writers in the business and billboards them on his site...in addition to some pretty darn good bloggers at KK as well, like Sens Hobo (in my mind the most objective Sens blogger out there).

Kukla features an article today on Giguere that pretty much spells out the situation.

Here's the article:

Ducks goaltender Jean- Sebastien Giguere was in full health Monday and will accompany the team on a four-game road trip starting Wednesday in New Jersey.

But for how much longer?

Now that he's recovered from the strained groin he suffered on Oct. 24, Giguere has an opportunity to wrest the No. 1 job from Jonas Hiller, who has started the last six games. If Giguere cannot regain the starting job, he said "I'd rather retire than be a backup goalie."

"Something needs to happen," Giguere said. "You get a guy like (Hiller) that's going to be a free agent at the end of the year and myself, making the money I'm making, either I'm leaving or he's leaving."

Hiller, 27, is due $1.3 million in the final year of his contract. Giguere, 32, will make $13 million over the next two seasons. This has led to speculation that the Ducks would seek a deal for Giguere, who has a no-trade clause in his contract.

Giguere, asked Monday if he has been approached about waiving the no-trade clause, said, "That's something you probably should ask Bob Murray." The Ducks' general manager declined comment through a spokesperson.

"I want to play; that's when I have fun. Right now, this is not fun," Giguere said. "I am looking forward to having fun at some point at some time. I'm not sure what's going to happen, but it's going to happen."

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_13751868

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/giguere_does_not_want_to_be_a_backup/


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My opinion? I think a deal between the Ducks and Toronto is not out of the question.

Gustavsson seems to have no ego problems being a 1 or 1a or a 2...Giguere has one more year on his contract after this one.

The numbers, and the situation, could be made to work for both parties.

But, there could be other options...and I have no real idea what those might be.

SensGirl11 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:
Fair enough, but still silly IMO. Whatever, they can do what they want. I guess they're comfortable enough now that Hiller is ready to be Number 1.

Now's the time though. If they can do it, then let it happen. They might need to try to pry one of Toronto's D-men away if possible though, their D has been flailing lately. Well...it's not just that, they're not really that great anymore. Pronger was a massive piece of their puzzle.

Very true, I can't believe they let him walk. Unbelievable. Pretty similar to us and Chara. I think Chara's better though of course.

Flailing D...sounds familiar.

I wouldn'T call Lupul, Sbiza(underrated) and 2 first round picks "walking". In fact, I would make that deal without thinking if I am the DUcks.

marakh wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:
Fair enough, but still silly IMO. Whatever, they can do what they want. I guess they're comfortable enough now that Hiller is ready to be Number 1.

Now's the time though. If they can do it, then let it happen. They might need to try to pry one of Toronto's D-men away if possible though, their D has been flailing lately. Well...it's not just that, they're not really that great anymore. Pronger was a massive piece of their puzzle.

Very true, I can't believe they let him walk. Unbelievable. Pretty similar to us and Chara. I think Chara's better though of course.

Flailing D...sounds familiar.

I wouldn'T call Lupul, Sbiza(underrated) and 2 first round picks "walking". In fact, I would make that deal without thinking if I am the DUcks.

@Marakh> you're absolutely correct.

Spez--who I doubt watches many Ducks games apart from the playoffs--doesn't see the big picture in Anaheim, so he looks at Pronger and the current standings, and pronounces the deal 'a loser'.

On the contrary.

Anaheim GM Bob Murray--a pretty mean defenseman in his time--and a very well schooled GM, is in the process of building his Top 4 D for the near future.

Pronger and Beauchemin are gone, but he still has Scott Niedermayer, one of the finest in the game, to mentor Ryan Whitney, James Wisniewski, Brendan Mikkelson and Sbisa. (Not counting Eminger and Brookbank). That will be a very strong Top 4/6 within the next few years.

Lupul's an excellent addition to the forward unit, and the draft picks could easily yield significant dividends.

Plus, he's reducing his cap exposure step-by-step.

If he trades Giguere for Toskala, he saves 2MM this year in salary and cap space, while unloading next year's 7MM salary.

Toskala, though perhaps no longer a #1, could be a capable backup for Hiller; and there's no committment beyond June 2010.

Will the deal happen? Who knows?

But there is logic for both parties.

Steve MacIntyre was claimed by Florida.